Pilot scale production of high-content mycoprotein using Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus by submerged fermentation and agro-industrial by-products.

While mycoprotein has gained traction as a human food source, its potential as a nutrient for animals remains largely unexplored. The mycoprotein-producing Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus, a fungus traditionally used for human food in Indonesia, is promising. It could revolutionise animal nutrition once it is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and is a biosafety level 1 (BSL1) organism. To enhance sustainably, we propose using sugar cane molasses (SM) and corn steep liquor (CSL) as nutrient sources. Also, we investigated the growth of R. microsporus var. oligosporus in five 14 L external-loop airlift bioreactors using CSL as the sole nutrient source. After 96 h of fermentation, at 25 °C and 0.5 vvm, the mycelium produced had an average biomass yield of 38.34 g L-1, with 70.18 % (m v-1) crude protein (mycoprotein). This bioprocess, which is scalable and economically viable, produces high amounts of mycoprotein for animal feed using CSL, a cost-effective agro-industrial by-product, providing a practical solution to the growing demand for animal protein.

Performance, ruminal and fecal microbiome of lambs fed diets supplemented with probiotics.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of adding two doses of a commercial probiotic on productive performance, ruminal and fecal microbiome in growing lambs. Forty-two Texel or Ile de France crossbred lambs aged 86.9 ± 8.0 days (body weight: 27.4 ± 3.7 kg) were distributed into three groups: basal diet without probiotic supplementation (CG); basal diet + 1 g/animal/day of probiotic (GP1) and basal diet + 5 g/animal/day of probiotic (GP5). The experimental period was 84 days. The weight was evaluated weekly and dry matter intake (DMI) and leftovers were measured daily. At the end of the experiment, lambs were slaughtered. Feces and rumen fluid were collected for microbiome analysis and rumen fragments for histological evaluation. The use of probiotics did not affect weight gain, but GP1 showed a higher silage and DMI intake than CG (p < 0.001). The CG had a greater thickness of keratinized epithelium and stratum corneum (< 0.001) than GP1 and GP5, and greater total papilla width (p = 0.039) than GP1. There was no difference in the general abundance in the rumen and fecal microbiomes. GP5 had a higher proportion of Azoarcus and Dialister taxa in the rumen fluid (p = 0.012 and p = 0.017, respectively) and higher proportion of Treponema and Fibrobacter taxa in the fecal microbiome (p = 0.015 and p = 0.026, respectively), whereas CG had a higher proportion of Anaeroplasma than the other groups (p = 0.032). These results demonstrated the benefits of probiotics for ruminal epithelium protection and microbial diversity. However, there was no effect on performance parameters.

Resistance of Transgenic Maize Cultivars to Mycotoxin Production-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Approximately 25% of cereal grains present with contamination caused by fungi and the presence of mycotoxins that may cause severe adverse effects when consumed. Maize has been genetically engineered to present different traits, such as fungal or insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. This systematic review compared the observable quantities, via meta-analysis, of four mycotoxins (aflatoxins-AFL, fumonisins-FUM, deoxynivalenol-DON, zearalenone-ZEA) between genetically modified (GM) and conventional maize kernels. This study was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, with searches performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and CAPES journals databases. Analyses were conducted using RevMan v.5.4 software. Transgenic maize showed a 58% reduction in total mycotoxins (p < 0.001) compared to conventional maize. FUM were the most impacted, with a 59% reduction (p < 0.001) in GM maize. AFL and ZEA levels were also lower in GM maize by 49% (p = 0.02) and 51% (p < 0.001), respectively. On the other hand, DON levels increased by 6% (p < 0.001) in GM maize compared to conventional maize. However, results for ZEA and DON were inconclusive due to the limited research and sample sizes. We conclude that transgenic maize reduces total mycotoxins by over 50%, primarily fumonisin and aflatoxin. Most studies presented maize varieties that were resistant to insects or herbicides, not fungal pathogens, showing a positive collateral effect of these genetic alterations. Therefore, transgenic maize appears to be a safer product for animal and human consumption from a toxicological point of view. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm our findings for ZEA and DON in transgenic maize.

Influence of climatic changes on respiratory health in a teaching herd of outdoor-housed horses.

Horses maintained outdoors may experience a lower-allergenic environment compared to their stabled counterparts. This study hypothesizes that climatic changes in southern Brazil can influence respiratory status. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the lower airways of 17 horses from a teaching herd in southern Brazil, maintained outdoors, during winter, spring, and summer. Except for one mare with a history of severe asthma, all horses were considered healthy and underwent a physical examination. Airway endoscopic evaluation included scoring for tracheal mucus (0-5) and bronchial septum thickness (1-5). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected at three time points, while bronchial septum biopsies were performed during spring and summer for airway epithelial investigation. Data analysis involved repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests (p < 0.05). Tracheal mucus score and septal thickness did not differ across investigation periods. In BALF cytology, the mean percentage of neutrophils was higher in spring than summer (7.9 ± 13.4 % vs. 4.5 ± 11.7 %, P = 0.037), and eosinophil count was higher in winter than spring (0.64 ± 1.29 % vs. 0.03 ± 0.13 %, P = 0.034) and summer (0.64 ± 1.29 % vs. 0.14 ± 0.60 %, P = 0.023). Histopathological observations showed no differences between time points, and no correlations were observed with BALF analyses (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that, even in an outdoor environment, horses' airways exhibit cytological modifications associated with different seasons, indicating a need for deeper investigation; endobronchial biopsy did not contribute to the clinical diagnosis.

Alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters in the diets of broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a disease of worldwide distribution, which affects young broilers and causes economic losses on a scale of 6 billion dollars per year. For decades, NE was controlled in poultry flocks by dietary administration of low doses of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). However, an increase in NE incidence was noted after the AGP ban. This study aimed to compare the effect of an antibiotic (Enramycin) diet to a combination of sodium butyrate, hydrolyzed yeast, and zinc proteinate (ViligenTM) on broiler diets regarding performance, blood parameters, intestinal permeability, morphology and lesions, and carcass yield of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens to simulate subclinical necrotic enteritis. A total of 1,150 one-day-old male broiler chickens with an initial average weight of 43.9 ± 0.65 g were allocated to 50 experimental pens. Animals were divided into 5 groups: Negative control (NC) without additives; Positive control (PC) with 0.12 g/ton of Enramycin (8%); V500, V1000, and V1500 with the addition of 500, 1.000, and 1.500 g/ton of Viligen, respectively. All animals were challenged by Eimeria spp. at 7 d of age and by C. perfringens at 17, 18, and 19 d for induction of subclinical NE. The broilers fed with all concentrations of Viligen showed similar performance, blood parameters, intestinal permeability, and carcass yield compared to PC broilers. However, NC broilers showed higher FCR compared to PC broilers from 1 to 33 d (1.42 vs. 1.39) (P = 0.048) and from 1 to 42 d (1.51 vs. 1.49) (P < 0.001). V1500 broilers had fewer intestinal lesions at 28 d when compared to the PC treatment (P < 0.05) and showed that higher Viligen inclusion resulted in lower intestinal damage. At 21 d, the V500 group showed higher intestinal morphology characteristics (VH:VD 4.9 vs. 3.5) compared to the PC treatment (P < 0.001). Thus, in this study, the dietary addition of Viligen to broilers challenged by an experimental model of subclinical NE resulted in lower intestinal damage and similar performance to that obtained by the addition of Enramycin.

Impact of the educational setting on the teaching and learning of the equine distal limb ultrasonography.

The use of immersive methodologies is a trend in the educational environment, but their outcomes in the teaching-learning process need to be better understood. This study aimed to assess the impact of the educational environment on learning equine distal limb ultrasonography, comparing immersive classroom, traditional classroom, and virtual classroom. A total of 153 veterinary medicine students from the first to the third semester participated in this study. The students were divided into four groups: traditional (n = 22), immersive (n = 100), online (n = 31), and traditional-immersive (n = 15). The students completed a questionnaire before and immediately after the class. The online group had a lower average gain in correct answers compared to the others (p < 0.01). Regarding student perception, it was observed that the virtual group had the lowest satisfaction score (p < 0.001), and students in the immersive and online environments were more satisfied with the resources used compared to the traditional classroom (p = 0.01). Concluding, in the present study students showed a greater interest in environments associated with technology, and that in-person modalities resulted in significantly superior learning outcomes compared to online ones.

Ultra-diluted complex additive in the diet reveals benefits in the intestinal tract of nursery-phase piglets.

This study aimed to assess an ultra-diluted (UD) complex, as a replacement for an antimicrobial growth promoter in diets, on growth performance, intestinal health, and inflammatory response of nursery piglets. The experiment lasted 37 days and involved 126 animals weaned at 21 ± 1.3 d, with an initial body weight of 5.62 ± 1.16 kg. Piglets were assigned to six dietary treatments in a randomized block design with seven replicates and three piglets per pen as experimental unit. The treatments were: positive control (PC)- basal diet + 120 mg/kg of chlorohydroxyquinoline; negative control (NC)- basal diet without additives; and NC containing 4.5; 6.0; 7.5 or 9.0 kg of UD additive/ton diet. Performance data were calculated, and daily diarrhea was observed. Blood samples were collected for hematological analysis. At the end of the experiment, one animal per pen was slaughtered for organ weighing, pH, and the collection of intestinal samples for histopathology. Feces and cecal contents were collected for microbiological and antibiogram analyses. There was no difference in the performance between the treatments. Throughout the study, UD levels were equal to those of PC for diarrhea occurrence. Higher levels of UD complex led to higher total leukocyte counts. The 4.5 treatment showed a reduction in total and thermotolerant Enterobacteriaceae populations in piglet feces and an increase in lactic acid bacteria compared to PC. All treatments resulted in fewer duodenal histopathological alterations than those in the NC group. The use of UD additives, especially at 4.5 kg/ton, is a good alternative to chlorohydroxyquinoline in piglet diets.

Exhaled breath condensate analysis in horses: A scoping review.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection is a non-invasive sampling method that provides valuable information regarding the health status of the respiratory system by measuring inflammatory mediators, such as pH, hydrogen peroxide, and leukotriene B4. This scoping review aimed to provide an update on the collection and analysis of EBC in horses. A systematic search of three electronic databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, identified 40,978 articles, of which 1590 duplicates were excluded. Moreover, 39,388 articles were excluded because of irrelevance to this review, such as studies on other species, studies on respiratory exhalation, reviews, and theses. Finally, we evaluated 14 articles in this review. Our review revealed significant differences in the collection, storage, and processing of EBC samples, emphasizing the need for standardizing the technique and using specific equipment to improve the interpretation of the results.

Exploring alternatives for securing anatomical structures in capturing digital images: A comparative analysis.

Teaching veterinary anatomy using digital platforms requires improved image quality, which may influence the fixation process. This study aimed to compare four embalming solutions for high-colour-quality images of different tissues compared to the original image. Four equine left pelvic limbs were cut into metameres and divided equally for application of 10% formaldehyde, 96% glycerine, 33% hypersaturated NaCl solution and modified Larssen solution, respectively, which was maintained for 3 days. After drying for 3 days at room temperature, photographs were obtained at time 0 (T0), without any fixation process (original colour); time 1 (T1), immediately after removal from the solutions; and every 24 h for 3 days (T2-T4). The image colour quality was investigated by digitally evaluating the cortical bone, tendon and bone marrow using histograms and CIEDE2000 as well as by 10 specialists in an online survey. CIEDE2000 and histograms revealed that all fixation solutions changed the original tissue colour at all the time points (p < 0.0001). According to the specialists, the 33% saline solution produced the best results compared to the original one. The modified Larssen solution demonstrated better results for the tendon, marrow and cortical bone at T3 (p = 0.0015). Considering the colour of digital images, the modified Larssen solution provided the best results; however, the visual evaluation by the specialists revealed the 33% saline solution as the best.

Utilizing intramammary Melaleuca alternifolia as an organic internal sealant for dry-off therapy in Murrah buffaloes.

The effects of intramammary dry cow therapy based on the administration of 5% Melaleuca alternifolia tea tree essential oil (TTO) as an internal teat sealant to Murrah cows were evaluated. A longitudinal prospective and retrospective negative control study was performed using 12 buffaloes from a total of 20 Murrah buffaloes on an organic farm, with the cow used as a control for herself. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for treatments with pure oil (TTO) and medication containing 5% TTO (O5) were determined. The buffaloes were clinically examined, and the teats were evaluated using thermography and ultrasound. Udder health was monitored during the first 100 days in milk (DIM) using milk somatic cell count (SCC) and California mastitis test (CMT). Laboratory tests against standard strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC®25,923™, Escherichia coli ATCC®25,922™, and wild bacterial strains showed maximum MIC values of 50 µL/mL for the TTO and O5 treatments. One wild-type S. aureus strain showed no MBC. No adverse effects were observed after the intramammary application of TTO. The CMT and SCC values were similar (P > 0.05) for all observations. The medication containing 5% TTO was effective in vitro and compatible with the intramammary tissue in vivo of Murrah buffaloes. TTO was safe, not inducing inflammatory processes or other modifications of the teat detectable by thermography or ultrasound. It was able to protect buffaloes during the dry period under field conditions, demonstrating potential use as a teat sealant for organic farms.

Validation of targeted selective treatment (TST) methodology for gastrointestinal parasites of adult sheep in different physiological states.

We aimed to validate a targeted selective treatment (TST) methodology for treating parasitic gastrointestinal infections in ewes in different physiological states using parasitological and hematological parameters. Forty ewes were monitored from December 2021 to June 2022 and evaluated during various physiological stages in their life cycle. Before starting the experiment, a fecal egg count (FEC) reduction test was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the anthelmintic (AH) treatment. Weekly assessments were performed based on the Famacha© (F) system and body condition score (BCS), and ewes were subjected to AH treatment when necessary, with their physiological states recorded. Ewes were treated when they presented F ≥ 3, BCS ≤ 2.0 (when F = 2), or submandibular edema. Parasitological, i.e., FEC, and hematological, i.e., hematocrit (Ht), parameters were evaluated monthly to determine the efficiency of the TST methodology. Comparisons between the mean Ht and FEC values in ewes subjected to AH treatment and untreated ewes were performed using analysis of variance, followed by Tukey's test. Spearman's correlation was performed to determine the correlation between the variables, i.e., F scores, BCS, Ht, and FEC. All tests were performed at a significance level of 5 %. During the experimental period, 1138 evaluations were performed. The main reason for AH treatment was F ≥ 3. Ewes in early pregnancy, lactation and late pregnancy received comparatively more AH treatments than the other physiological states. Ewes in late pregnancy and lactation exhibited lower mean Ht values (23.5 % and 22.9 %) and higher mean FEC values (3269 and 1426) compared with those in early pregnancy (30.2 % and 727 EPG). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in the Ht and FEC values of ewes that presented submandibular edema (P < 0.001) compared with those that did not exhibit submandibular edema. The genus Haemonchus sp. showed a 96.4 % prevalence in coprocultures. A positive correlation existed between F scores and FEC (r = 0.3819) and a negative correlation between F scores and Ht (r = -0.4728). Ewes that needed AH treatment had lower mean Ht values than ewes that did not need the treatment (19.2 % × 29.3 %; P < 0.001) and higher mean FEC values (8747 × 1163; P < 0.001), confirming that these ewes needed AH treatment. The TST methodology based on F scores, BCS, and submandibular edema could effectively identify individuals in the herd needing AH treatment, identifying 13 % additional cases requiring treatment than using only the F score criterion.

Productive performance of lambs born in different seasons of the year.

Background: The seasonality in lamb supply challenges the development of sheep production. Increasing the duration of the breeding season, aimed at distributing births throughout the year, enables a constant supply of lambs. However, the birth season can influence their productive performance. Aim: The objective was to evaluate the effect of birth season on birth live weight (BW), daily live weight gain from birth to weaning (DWGBW), weaning live weight (WW), and daily live weight gain from weaning to 150 days (DWGW-150) slaughter age, as well as the influence of ewe age and body condition score (BCS), sex of the lamb, and type of pregnancy (single or twin) on these productive indices. Methods: The study analyzed production data comprising ten breeding seasons (from 2015 to 2019), 643 matings, and 531 lambs, using binary logistic regression, ANOVA, Tukey's, and t tests. Results: Lambs born in summer exhibited lower productive performance, as evidenced by lower DWGBW (0.22 ± 0.08 kg), WW (18.88 ± 7.82 kg), and DWGW-150 (0.13 ± 0.07 kg). Ewes with prepartum BCS between 3 and 4 gave birth to heavier lambs. After birth, lambs from ewes with BCS between 3 and 4 had a higher DWGBW, while lambs from ewes with postpartum BCS of 1.5 and 2 had a lower WW. Ewes aged 2 to 8 years gave birth to heavier lambs, and ewes aged ≥8 years weaned lambs at a lower weight. After weaning, the weight gain was similar among all age groups. Male lambs had higher DWGBW and WW than female lambs. Lambs from twin pregnancies had lower BW (3.95 ± 1.27 kg), lower DWGBW (0.21 ± 0.08 kg), and lower WW (17.59 ± 8.18 kg). The average lamb mortality rate between lambing and weaning was 12.5%, ranging from 9.8% to 13.9%, with no significant variations between birth seasons. Lambs born in spring and summer needed more anthelmintic treatments than those born in autumn and winter. Conclusion: The production of lambs outside the traditional season is possible; however, the productive performance of lambs born in the summer is lower than that in the other seasons of the year.

A remote, fully oriented personalized program of physical exercise for women in follow-up after breast cancer treatment improves body composition and physical fitness.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an individualized remote exercise program on the improvement of body composition and physical fitness of a heterogeneous group of patients who completed breast cancer treatment. This prospective study included 107 women aged 18 to 60, shortly after curative treatment for localized breast cancer, at the Erasto Gaertner Cancer Hospital (HEG) in Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Body composition, maximal oxygen consumption, and muscle resistance were evaluated after nine months of intervention while considering adherence to the program, level of physical activity, presence of binge eating disorder, tumor classification, and treatment type. Seventy-eight women (72.8%) adhered to the training program. Adherent participants showed significant changes in body mass ([-4.3 â€‹± â€‹3.6] kg; p â€‹< â€‹0.000 1), body mass index ([-1.6 â€‹± â€‹1.5] kg·m-2; p â€‹< â€‹0.000 1), body fat (-3.4% â€‹± â€‹3.1%; p â€‹< â€‹0.000 1), maximal oxygen consumption ([7.5 â€‹± â€‹2.0] ml·kg-1·min-1); p â€‹< â€‹0.000 1), and abdominal resistance ([11.2 â€‹± â€‹2.8] reps; p â€‹< â€‹0.000 1). In contrast, these variables did not change significantly in the non-adherent group. Among the adherent participants, those subclassified in the severe binge group showed a more noticeable reduction in body mass, body mass index, and body fat (p â€‹< â€‹0.05) than those in the non-binge group. Individualized remotely-guided physical exercise programs can improve the body composition and physical fitness of women undergoing post-breast cancer surveillance, regardless of pathological history or treatment.

Influence of probiotic supplementation on parasitological parameters in lambs.

The control of parasitosis is based on the use of anthelmintics. However, its long-term and indiscriminate use can select populations of resistant nematodes. New alternatives such as probiotics are being studied to solve this problem. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an oral probiotic containing six different bacterial strains and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the blood biochemistry, parasitological, and histological parameters of naturally infected lambs. Forty-two weaned Texel or Ile de France crossbred lambs aged 86.9 ± 8.0 days and weighing 27.4 ± 3.7 kg were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 14 lambs). The control group (CG) was fed a basal diet without probiotic supplementation. The treatment group 1 g (T1G) was fed a basal diet with commercial probiotic supplementation at a dose of 1 g/lamb/day. The treatment group 5 g (T5G) was fed a basal diet with commercial probiotic supplementation at a dose of 5 g/lamb/day. The experimental period was 84 days, where the groups undergo mild natural infection. Every two weeks the hematocrit, total protein, albumin, globulin, fibrinogen, plasma protein, fecal egg count (FEC), and fecal consistency score were evaluated. Twenty lambs were slaughtered for histological evaluation of the rumen and abomasal wall and for counting abomasal nematodes. The area, length, and number of eggs from the recovered Haemonchus contortus female uteri were measured. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test (p ≤ 0.05). The area and length of Haemonchus contortus females from T1G were smaller (p < 0.01) than those of CG and T5G. The number of eggs from the H. contortus female uterus was lower (p < 0.01) in T1G and T5G. Evaluating the incidence of diarrhea, the T1G and T5G groups had a higher prevalence with a 35% and 39% score of zero, respectively (p < 0.05), while the CG group had 22%. All other evaluated parameters showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the groups. The probiotic had a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal health of the weaned lambs through a decrease of the area, length, and the number of eggs of female H. contortus and an improvement in fecal consistency.

Mixed management in growing and finishing pigs: Differences between gender and their impacts on behavior, growth performance, and physiological parameters.

Mixing, a common management strategy used to regroup pigs, has been reported to impair individual performance and affect pig welfare because of the establishment of a new social hierarchy after regrouping. In this study we aimed to determine whether mixing management (non-mixed vs. mixed) and gender (gilts vs. barrows) affect the social and non-social behavior, performance, and physiological parameters of pigs. A total of 96 growing pigs (48 barrows and 48 females) were separated into two treatments: control (CT)-pigs that were mixed once during the growing-finishing period; and social stress (SS)-pigs that were mixed thrice during the growing-finishing period. We recorded social and non-social behaviors, injury score, performance, and physiological parameters during the experimental period. Data were grouped by the period, based on each mix performed, and overall values. The statistical analysis performed considered gender and treatment. For treatment, during period-II and III, the SS group presented the highest frequency of agonistic interactions (AI), stayed longer lying laterally (LL) and sternly (LS), and explored more enrichment material (ER) than the CT group. Furthermore, SS pigs presented the highest injury score in the ear, head, and middle and posterior regions. Compared to the females, the barrows spent more time at the electronic feed station and initiated most of the agonistic interactions during period-II, and they presented a higher injury score for the ear and head regions during period-III. In conclusion, repeated regrouping significantly affected social and feeding behavior without severely altering performance and physiological parameters. Furthermore, different patterns of social and feeding behavior, agonistic interactions, and injury scores between barrows and females were observed. This study provides an understanding of the impact of mixing management and gender differences on pigs, and this knowledge can be used to improve swine productivity and welfare.

Reproductive performance of European-breed ewes in different seasons of the year under mid-latitude.

The study evaluated the reproductive performance of Ile de France, Texel, Suffolk and crossbred ewes in different seasons, considering season of mating, age, body condition score and breed. The herd was located at geographic coordinates -25.66114429 S, -49.27262198 W, in Fazenda Rio Grande, Paraná State, southern Brazil, in a semi-intensive system. 643 mating were evaluated, under natural oestrous conditions in 10 consecutive breeding seasons (2015-2019), under a body condition score between 2.5 and 3.5 in 93.9%. Data were analysed using Chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, ANOVA and t-test. Considering the breeds and crossbred animals, a pregnancy rate (PR) of 83% (winter), 91% (autumn) and 89% (summer) with no differences between them was obtained, except for 77% PR in spring (p < .05). Ile de France and crossbred ewes showed similar PR in all four seasons. Suffolk ewes showed similar fertility rates in summer, autumn and winter, but reduced in spring (p < .05); Texel ewes showed lower PR in summer and spring compared to autumn and winter (p < .05). The twin PR (TPR) in autumn, winter and spring showed no differences, except for summer (p < .05). Age did not influence the PR of ewes <2 years, 2-8 years and >8 years in the seasons, except in summer. It was concluded that the reproduction of European ewes breeds under medium latitude, combined with the use of constant management and feeding conditions, resulted in a fertility rate above 77% in all seasons, resulting in constant production of lambs.

Inclusion of Soybean Hulls (Glycine max) and Pupunha Peach Palm (Bactris gasipaes) Nanofibers in the Diet of Growing Rabbits: Effects on Zootechnical Performance and Intestinal Health.

This study evaluated the inclusion of nanofibers from soybean hulls and pupunha peach palm heart sheaths in the diet of growing rabbits. Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits (male and female) were allocated in three experimental groups: control, fed a basal diet; Nanosoy, fed a diet containing 7% soybean-hull nanofibers; and Nanopupunha, fed a diet containing 7% pupunha palm heart-sheath nanofibers. The Nanosoy-group rabbits showed poorer final weight, daily feed intake, and daily weight gain than those in other groups. In the duodenum, villus height, total mucosal thickness, and villus width were higher in rabbits that received nanofiber-supplemented diets than in the controls. Higher villus density and wall thickness were observed in Nanopupunha-fed rabbits than in the controls. In the jejunum, although the crypt depth was higher in Nanosoy-fed rabbits, the villus height:crypt depth ratio was higher in the Nanopupunha-fed group. Nanosoy-fed animals exhibited increased count Enterobacteriaceae populations. Rabbits in both nanofiber-fed groups exhibited higher lactic-acid bacterial counts than those in the control-diet group. Therefore, although the inclusion of 7% Nanopupunha in the diet of rabbits did not alter the performance, it improved intestinal health and increased the lactic-acid bacterial count in the cecum of growing rabbits.

Systems biology network reveals the correlation between COX-2 expression and Ch 7q copy number alterations in Ch 11q-deleted pediatric neuroblastoma tumors.

Tumor-associated inflammation and chromosomal aberrations can play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. In neuroblastoma (NB), the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with copy number alterations on the long arm of chromosome 11 (Ch 11q), defining an aggressive disease subset. This retrospective study included formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples collected from nine patients during diagnosis at the pediatric Pequeno Principe Hospital, Curitiba, PR, Brazil, and post-chemotherapy (CT). COX-2 expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and correlated with the genome profile of paired pre- and post-CT samples, determined by array comparative genomic hybridization. A systems biology approach elucidated the PTGS2 network interaction. The results showed positive correlations between pre-CT Ch 7q gain and COX-2 expression (ρ = 0.825; p-value = 0.006) and negative correlations between Ch 7q gain and Ch 11q deletion (ρ = -0.919; p-value = 0.0005). Three samples showed Ch 11q deletion and Ch 7q gain. Network analysis identified a direct connection between CAV-1 (Ch 7q) and COX-2 in NB tumors and highlighted the connection between amplified genes in Ch 7q and deleted ones in 11q. The identification of hub-bottleneck-switch genes provides new biological insights into this connection between NB, tumorigenesis, and inflammation.

Induced Stress and Tactile Stimulation Applied to Primiparous does and their Consequences on Maternal Behavior, Human-Animal Relationships, and Future Offspring's Sexual Disorders.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether tactile stimulation in rabbits during the gestation phase improve the maternal behavior and human-animal relationships as well as the effects on reproductive behavior of male kits when reached maturity compared to induced stress. A total of 33 primiparous New Zealand does were selected after pregnancy confirmation and allocated in a randomized complete block design. The treatments applied were as follows: (C) animals not stimulated during the experimental period; (TS) animals that received tactile stimulation; and (SS) does which were immobilized. The nest building behavior as well as the weight, sexual behavior, mortality, and semen analysis of the offspring was recorded. In addition, the novel object, flight distance, social isolation, and human-approach tests were conducted. Under the conditions of the present trial, TS animals showed more trust in the unfamiliar observer when compared to the other two treatments. The treatments applied to the females (TS and SS) were sufficient to confirm that the control group presented better values for the number of stillbirths and the proportion of deaths in the first week. Finally, the handling of does reduce the males' ejaculation and sperm presence but not inhibited sexual behavior or impaired semen quality. It is possible to conclude that TS did not impair does welfare or maternal behavior and it improved the human-animal relationship, however there was a negative impact on the litter. More studies that directly assess impact on the future reproductive capacity of the offspring are necessary.

Simultaneous feeding of calcium butyrate and tannin extract decreased the incidence of diarrhea and proinflammatory markers in weaned piglets.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of associating calcium butyrate with tannin extract, compared to an antimicrobial on the growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, intestinal histology, immune-expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in piglets. METHODS: Seventy-two piglets (36 barrows and 36 gilts) weaned at 28±2 d and initial body weight of 7.17±1.07 kg were allocated to 3 treatments in a randomized complete block design with 8 replicates per treatment and 3 animals per experimental unit. Treatments were composed of NC, negative control: basal diet without additives; PC, positive control: basal diet + 40 mg/kg of colistin sulfate; or BT, basal diet + calcium butyrate + tannin extract. The butyrate and tannin inclusion levels were 0.15% in the pre-starter phase and 0.075% in the starter phase. Incidence of diarrhea was monitored daily, and on d 14 and 35 of experiment, 1 animal from each experimental unit was slaughtered to collect intestinal samples. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed for growth performance. The butyrate-and tannin-based additive resulted in reduced (p<0.05) incidence of diarrhea in piglets during d 1 to 14 and d 1 to 35 in comparison with the other treatments. Piglets that consumed the diet containing the calcium-butyrate and tannin showed a lower (p<0.05) crypt depth in the duodenum than those receiving the NC treatment at 14 d of experimentation. The BT treatment provided a lower (p<0.05) immune-expression of COX-2 at 14 d and TNF-α at 35 d in the duodenum. CONCLUSION: Association between calcium butyrate and tannin extract resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of diarrhea and inflammatory process in the duodenum of piglets. Therefore, calcium-butyrate combined with tannin could be a part of an alternative program to reduce the use of antimicrobials in the diet of weaned piglets.